Steady Performance Amid New Releases Keeps Akshay Kumar-Arshad Warsi Film in Race for Bigger Success
Mumbai, October 6, 2025 – Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi's courtroom comedy-drama Jolly LLB 3, directed by Subhash Kapoor, has earned over ₹100 crore net in India after 17 days in theatres, showing strong staying power despite competition from new films.
The third installment of the popular Jolly LLB series, released on September 19, 2025, in cinemas across India, brings back the two Jollys – Jagdishwar Mishra (Akshay Kumar) and Jagdish Tyagi (Arshad Warsi) – in a legal battle over a farmer's land rights and corruption. It also features Saurabh Shukla as Judge Sunderlal Tripathi, Huma Qureshi, and Amrita Rao. The film mixes humour, sharp dialogues, and social messages on issues like farmer suicides and illegal land grabs, drawing from real-life events.
Made on a reported budget of around ₹120 crore (including promotions), the movie opened to a solid ₹12.50 crore on day one, boosted by positive word-of-mouth. By the end of its first week, it had collected ₹85 crore net in India, entering the ₹100 crore club by day 13 with steady weekday earnings. As of October 5 (day 17), the India net total stands at approximately ₹105.9 crore, with a worldwide gross of ₹155 crore, including ₹28.4 crore from overseas markets. This marks it as a profitable venture for producers Star Studios and Kangra Talkies, already surpassing its cost and ranking as Akshay Kumar's fourth highest-grossing film post-COVID.
This performance affects everyday viewers in India by offering affordable entertainment that sparks talks on real problems like land disputes, which touch millions of farmers. For the film industry, it shows demand for content-driven comedies over action spectacles, helping Akshay Kumar bounce back after mixed 2024 results. Arshad Warsi's return adds nostalgia, appealing to fans of the 2013 original.
Akshay Kumar, speaking at a promotional event, shared his excitement: "There are real incidents in part 1 and part 2, so part 3 also has some real incidents," emphasizing the film's grounded roots. He also praised co-star Arshad: "He's such a lovely lad... We finished it in 2 and a half months. It was great." Director Subhash Kapoor echoed this, telling media the story unites the Jollys for justice, ending with "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan."
On the balance side, while Jolly LLB 3 has thrived on positive buzz, it faces views that sequels sometimes dilute originality. Some online discussions on Reddit note early "hit" labels feel like PR, urging focus on long-term earnings over hype. Others argue its ₹100 crore milestone proves genuine appeal, outpacing predecessors like Jolly LLB 2 (₹104 crore lifetime) in the second week alone. Compared to flops like Kesari Chapter 2 (₹131 crore gross vs. ₹150 crore budget), this film's efficiency stands out.
As of October 6, Jolly LLB 3 continues screening with 40-43% occupancy over the weekend, adding ₹2.20 crore on day 17. Next, it eyes ₹120 crore net to solidify "hit" status, but new challengers like Kantara: Chapter 1 and Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari (released October 2) may slow growth. Digital rights are sold to Netflix for a November 14 premiere, promising wider reach for home viewers. Trade experts predict a final India net of ₹110-115 crore if it holds steady.